The CURE for Your Vocation

Craig Howard to Serve as Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships

02.20.2013

The Rev. Craig Howard has accepted the invitation of the Presbytery of Milwaukee to serve as the Executive Director for Strategic Partnerships. A March start date is anticipated.

Craig, who currently serves as Pastor of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Cottage Grove, WI, will provide executive leadership to the Presbytery as it moves forward, responding to its existing and emergine ministries and mission.

"The Presbytery of Milwaukee is composed of talented and creative pastors and leaders who share a missional vision for the promotion of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the expansion of the Presbyterian canvas in their communities," Craig said. "My role will be to enhance their work through training, and building a community with a culture of trust and an atmosphere of risk taking."

Craig has always served the church bi-vocationally, doing fundraising or admissions work while in pastoral ministry. Creativity has been at the forefront for building bridges and relationships across denominational, theological, and racial ethnic boundaries. As a teaching elder, he has served several PC(USA) churches including Ravenswood Presbyterian Church in Chicago, a majority Latino/a church, and Korean Presbyterian Church in Madison.

Craig's entrepreneurial spirit is evident in his first career, spending 20 years building a successful insurace agency. Following God's call to ordained ministry, he earned his Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary and served McCormick as Director of Recruitment and Admissions. Later he served McCormick in fundraising as Chief Development Officer. Following his move to Madison, he worked as a Major Gifts Officer at Beloit College in Beloit, WI, and as Mission Advancement Director at Bethesda Lutheran Communities in Watertown.

Craig holds a Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick with a focus on Building Beloved Community. He said "I pray my combination of pastoral, administrative, entrepreneurial skills and enthusiasm will be utilized for God's glory in my work as Executive Director."